Chapter 2. Extending A Network's Radio Coverage; One-Hop Wireless Network Example; Two-Hop Wireless Network Example - Intel 2011B - PRO/Wireless LAN Enterprise Access Point Configuration Manual

Chapter 2. Extending a Network's Radio Coverage

Chapter 2. Extending a Network's Radio Coverage
This section covers examples for extending the radio coverage of a single Ethernet network with
one-hop and two-hop wireless AP operations. The term "hop" refers to the direct communications
link between two nodes of a network. With regard to wireless AP operations, the number of hops
refers to the number of direct links through which a message passes between the root access point
and a particular designated WLAP. Examples of one-hop and two-hop operations are shown in
Figure 2-1 and Figure 2-2.
The basic settings for the access points are covered in the previous sections. In the following
network diagram examples, the root access point is labeled A, and the two designated WLAPs are
labeled B and C. For reference, the MAC addresses are included in the diagrams and example
screens.
HOST.CDR, FRAME
WLAP Manual BSS ID
of B and C set to MAC
address of A
Host
Computer
Figure 2-1: Wireless AP Network with One Hop
2.1

One-Hop Wireless Network Example

The example in Figure 2-1 extends a network's radio coverage with one hop between the root
access point A and the two designated WLAPs B and C.
To configure the one-hop network, set the WLAP Manual BSS ID on the root access point to its
own MAC address. In addition, set the WLAP Manual BSS ID on access point B and C to the MAC
address of access point A. The RF Configuration screen for the root access point A is shown in
Figure 2-3.
2.2

Two-Hop Wireless Network Example

The example in Figure 2-2 extends a network's radio coverage with two hops. In this network, there
is one hop between the root access point A and designated WLAP B, then another hop between
WLAP B and the other designated WLAP C.
To configure a two-hop network, set the WLAP Manual BSS ID on access point C to the MAC
address of access point B and the WLAP Manual BSS ID on B to the MAC address of the root
access point A. The Manual BSS ID for the root access point A is set to its own MAC address. The
RF Configuration screen in Figure 2-3 shows the WLAP Manual BSS ID setting for access point C.
The RF Configuration screens for the other two access points are the same except the WLAP
Manual BSS IDs would be set to 00:A0:F8:93:C5:B5 and the WLAP Priority for access point A
would be set to 7000.
4
00:A0:F8:8B:71:45
B
Root access point A
00:A0:F8:93:C5:B5
WLAP Priority = 7000
Ethernet
Configuring Access Point Bridging and Repeating (WLAP Mode)
00:A0:F8:94:C3:64
C
One Hop
WLAP Manual
BSS ID of A set
to its own MAC
address.